SARASOTA, FL (Wednesday, April 6, 2022 ) – Jen Ahearn-Koch, current City of Sarasota Commissioner At-Large and former City of Sarasota Mayor and Vice Mayor, announces her official pre-qualification to run for a second term for Sarasota City Commission, At-Large for the August 23, 2022, primary election / November 8, 2022, General election.
Commissioner Jen has devoted more than two decades to the community of Sarasota. In 2017, Jen was elected to serve on the City of Sarasota’s City Commission as an At-Large Commissioner, and also served as Mayor and Vice Mayor. Prior to election to the Sarasota City Commission, Jen served six years as a City of Sarasota Planning Board Member (serving as Chair and Vice-Chair). Jen is also the former Tahiti Park Neighborhood Association founding member and President, the former neighborhood representative to the Coalition of City Neighborhood Association (CCNA), and has served on the CCNA’s Executive Committee. Jen also volunteered with a number of grassroots organizations including SOS Save Our Sarasota Tree Canopy.
Jen remains dedicated to representing the citizens of the City of Sarasota at the Commission table while also emphasizing balanced solutions to the quality-of-life issues impacting our community. She is focused on neighborhood preservation, sustainable growth, affordable housing solutions, environmental stewardship, park protection, and economic vitality.Primary areas of focus include:Affordable Housing: Jen is committed to using affordable housing tools at the municipal level including Inclusionary Zoning, increased State and Federal funding, and collaborative community/region-wide efforts.
Neighborhood Preservation and Sustainable Growth: Jen believes sustainable and balanced growth involves neighborhood preservation and protection with an inclusive public process; advancing our City by fostering economic opportunities for our businesses and citizens; ensuring tax dollars are invested in the community and spent responsibly.
Environment Stewardship: Because “our Environment is our Economy,” Jen knows that improving and maintaining the water quality of our Bay, our estuaries, and our Gulf are essential. Making the investment now in resiliency is an investment in our future. Trees play a key role in walkability and provide shade, reduce heat island effects, and improve air quality. Park improvements, sustainability efforts, resiliency, tree protection, and canopy street programs are all examples of continued efforts. Environmental impacts on the public health through air and water quality projects are at forefront of Jen’s focus.
Community Building: Jen ensures the community’s voice is heard in the City process, including multi-modial/micro transportation planning to safely connect communities; support for Housing First and Mental Health initiatives to continue to make progress for the homeless programs supporting permanent solutions.
Join the Vote For Jen Campaign! To learn more, or visit www.voteforjen.org, Social: JenForSarasota, or email info@voteforjen.org. ____________
Jen Ahearn-Koch has actively participated in Sarasota’s community for 20 years and is to thrilled to run for re-election to the Sarasota City Commission At-Large elections on August 23, 2022 and November 8, 2022. Her attention is focused on Quality-of-Life issues impacting our community with a focus on Environmental Stewardship, Affordable Housing, Sustainable Growth, and Community Building.